presupposition

Definitions

A thing tacitly assumed beforehand at the beginning of a line of argument or course of action.

The action of assuming something to be true before it has been proven.

In linguistics, an implicit assumption about the world or background belief relating to an utterance whose truth is taken for granted.

Examples

The entire argument is based on the false presupposition that all employees are motivated solely by money.

His question carried the underlying presupposition that I had already agreed to the terms of the contract.

Synonyms

assumption premise presumption conjecture postulate supposition hypothesis

Antonyms

fact certainty reality proof verification demonstration truth